Chris Paul Trade: Did Michael Jordan Help Block CP3's Move to LA?

Michael Jordan has completed his transformation going to the dark side as small-market NBA owner. 

Welcome to the new NBA, where parity will abound if they have to stuff it down your damn throats. It's interesting that the NBA wants to switch things up now after the Lakers, Celtics and Bulls combined for 39 of the 65 NBA championships. 

It seems odd to suddenly force feed an even playing field, but that is what's happening as teams like the Charlotte Bobcats—franchises that charge far less than the Celtics and Lakers for tickets to their games will have a crack at stars at discount prices. Huzzah. 

The latest shoe to drop in the Chris Paul debacle centers around Michael Jordan, a man who became a legend and is now just some old fart that loves to clip NBA coupons. 

SI.com reported Jordan was against the trade that would have sent Paul to the LA Lakers because, "as a small-market [owner] I'm very supportive of being able to keep your star player."

Many would see that as placing shackles on the player. Others would see it as just bad business. Make no mistake, Paul is outties as soon as the season ends. That means the whining from small-market owners such as Jordan only hurt the Hornets, a fellow small-market team. 

So don't see Jordan's position as philanthropic for his fellow owners, because he is merely being a greedy owner who just wants his bottom line to flourish. 

Here is how the report concludes: 

"

Jordan says he would be interested in signing the New Orleans guard if Paul becomes a free agent next year.

The Bobcats owner believes the new CBA will help level the playing field because of increased luxury tax implications for big-market teams that go over the salary cap to sign free agents.

Jordan says the new deal is "good for our market," but adds, it is "not where we ultimately want it to be."

"

Here is my issue with this stupidity. The Lakers, Celtics and other big-market teams will charge big-market prices to fans that want to see them. 

In a rare just turn, those teams spend more than they should to ensure their fans are well compensated. There is nothing keeping these other owners from doing the same, but they would rather run their smaller teams like a business that makes money rather than a sports team based on winning. 

So, the big teams will be forced to spend in line with the rest of the league. Something that rarely happens in other sports. Take baseball and world football, for example. 

The funny part is, the small-market teams will still not get the star players they think they will. Jordan himself wouldn't want to forego a career under the spotlight of Chicago, a famed a bustling city. 

Players will still want to play in warm weather of LA or Miami. Stars will still be drawn by Manhattan lights. Nothing changes. 

All the stubborn digging of heels did was ruin the future of the New Orleans Hornets who will now get nothing in return for Paul if he is not traded. They can try to force him to stay, but thank god for Curt Flood and free agency in every sport. 

Remember the MJ we all loved? He is long gone, replaced by a small-market owner who just doesn't get it. 

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